E.—l

39

pupils in Native schools, the percentages of pupils in the various classes in public schools being also shown for comparison :—

Efficiency of the Schools. The work of inspection and examination of Native schools was carried out in 1916 in the Hawke's Bay District under the supervision of the Senior Inspector of the district (formerly Senior Inspector of Native Schools); in other districts the work was undertaken by the Inspector of Native schools, assisted by the departmental Inspectors stationed in those districts, to whom was assigned a certain proportion of the schools. It is gratifying to note that the reports of Inspectors, who had not previously visited Native schools, indicated generally a very satisfactory degree of efficiency. The following figures give an estimate of the efficiency of the schools, as judged by the Inspectors for the years 1915 and 1916 : — Number of Schools. 1915. 1916. Very good to excellent ... ... ... ... ... 35 39 Satisfactory to good ... ... ... ... ... 71 65 Inferior to weak ... ... ... ... ... ... 10 11 The number of certificates of proficiency awarded was twenty-eight, and of competency (S6) twenty-six. Satisfactory reports are made on the progress effected during the year in the teaching of the ordinary subjects of the curriculum. Woodwork and cookery are taught in some of the schools, with good results. In one section of the Auckland District the pupils of the Native schools attend a manual centre established by the Education Board for the instruction of public-school pupils in those subjects. Arrangements have also been made for the inclusion, where possible, of Native schools in the scheme of agricultural instruction adopted by the Auckland Education Board for public schools. A special class in the subject for Native-school teachers was held at Tauranga during the year, being attended with good results by teachers from twelve Native schools. There is a necessity for affording further opportunity for Native-school teachers to receive instruction in the physical exercises now in vogue in the public schools. In many schools where the teachers have not received instruction the old system is still followed, the work being performed, however, very satisfactorily. Lifesaving drill and the Boy Scout movement have been introduced with much success into a few schools. Natives attending Public Schools. From the reports of Inspectors of Schools in the districts where the number of Maoris attending public schools is large it appears that the Natives suffer to some extent from the fact that the methods of teaching employed, especially of teaching English, are not suited to their requirements. Better results are obtained in this subject when a combination of the look-and-say and phonic methods is adopted. Unfortunately, however, a large number of Maori pupils attend small schools staffed by inexperienced and often inefficient teachers, under which circumstances the work is backward and progress unsatisfactory.

Percentaj ;e of Roll. Classes. Maoris. Europeans. Totals. Native Schools. Public Schools. 'reparatory Itandard I II HI IV V VI VII 2,033 641 627 509 376 247 116 11 193 67 69 70 65 . 57 45 6 2,226 708 696 579 441 304 161 17 43-4 13-8 13-6 11-3 8-5 5-9 3-2 0-3 35-48 12-76 12-26 11-86 10-91 9-27 6-14 1-32 i